Tai Chi Chuan Ching

Tai Chi ( the Supreme Ultimate ), it was born from Wu Chi ( No Ultimate ), it produces both movement and stillness, it is the mother of Yin and Yang, once there is movement there is separation.

Once there is stillness there is unity.

There is nothing exaggerated nor is anything lacking.

Follow bending then straightening, when the opponent is hard and stiff and I am pliant and soft this is call moving; When I am smooth and the opponent is not this is called adherence; If the opponent’s actions are swift then my response is swift.

If his actions are slow then I slowly follow them.

Although there are 10,000 transformations the principles remain the same.

Through practice and familiarity we gradually come to understand trained force.

From understanding trained force, we can achieve enlightenment.

However we must be diligent over a long period of time and cannot suddenly become expert.

Empty the neck and head top of strength the energy sinks to the Dan Tien.

Don’t lean to either side or forwards or back, suddenly conceal, suddenly reveal.

When the left feels heavy then make the left empty.

When the right feels heavy then make the right distant.

When the opponent looks up I am higher.

When he looks down I am lower still.

When he advances the distance seems surprisingly long.

When he retreats the distance seems surpassingly short.

A feather cannot be added, a fly cannot land.

Nobody knows me, I alone know them.

A hero thus becomes invincible.

Other schools of martial arts are so numerous, although there are external differences,without exception, they amount to nothing more than the strong bullying the weak; the powerful beating those without power, the slow hands surrender to the fast hands.

This is entirely due to innate natural ability.

It is not related to having learned the skilful use of strength at all.

From the sentence, “Four taels ( Chinese ounces ) displace a thousand catties ( Chinese pounds ),” it is evident we do not use force to get the upper hand.

When we observe an old man of eighty withstanding the assault of a group of people, how can it be due to speed?

Stand like a level scale, move like a wheel.

Sink the weight on side side then follow.

With double-weightedness then there is a hinderance.

You can often see people who have practiced for several years, but who still cannot change and turn, this leads to their being entirely regulated by others.

They are not aware of their sickness of double-weightedness.

If we wish to be free from this sickness we must know Yin and Yang.

When adherence is simply moving, when moving is simply adherence, when Yin does not depart from Yang, when Yang does not depart from Yin, when Yin and Yang aid one another, then we can say that we understand trained force.

After we understand trained force the more we train the more expert we become.

Silently memorise, study and imitate.

Gradually we reach the point where we can do all we wish.

Originally is is giving up yourself to follow your opponent.

Many err by forsaking she is near to pursue what is far.

It is said “A minute discrepancy leads to an error of one thousand Li ( Chinese miles ).”